The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1887-10-14
WASHINGTON LETTER.
Iron our Regular Correspondent

| WASHINGTON, Oct. 9, 1887.
The treasury department is in guam
Diary again over the surplus question
and the buying of bonds to relieve bust.
ness distress. Its seasons of relaxation
seem to be exceedingly spasmodic and
of short duration. The time of filling
the sinking fund expires on the 9Th, and
what then to do is a most serious ques-
ton. 1t is two months yet before Con-
gress can give any relief, and how to
bridge the interim is very annoying and
perplexing. The secretary has had a
conference with the Wall street bankers,
and returned just in season to have a
short interview with the president be-
fore he left for the West. It is said that
the secretary questions his authority to
go much further. though the Wall street
sharks have no qualms of conscience on
that point SO long as they have bonds to
sell at a good round price, but don't pro-
pose to tender them very lively at the
last bid of the secretary. The result of
the interview with the president is not
known, as they are extremely reticent
at the treasury department, but the
presumption is that no definite policy is
settled upon up to this writing, and that
telegraphIc communication and special
messengers will have to be relied on.
This viii sadly mar the pleasure of the
presidents trip, and of course cause
more or less confusion and delay, and
all for the want of some fixed, settled
and definite policy in regard to our
finances. All this uncertainty and per-
picking anxiety could have been easily
avoided by calling an extra session, and
making amends for the criminal neglect
of the last Congress. If the administra-
ton were alone the sufferers, we could
view the situation with some compla-
cency, but where the entire people are
involved, such lack of forethonght seems
most stupid.
Our Democratic friends have talked
good deal during the past thirty months
about JeffersonIan simplicity, and APP
piled it with wonderful dexterity to the
present administration. The fact of
history is this: Jefferson rode down
Pennsylvania avenue on his nag, tied it
to post near the capital, and unosten-
tatiously passed through the ceremonies
of his Inauguration. To-day President
Cleveland is careering through the land
in $500, 900 train of cars, reckoning for
ovation and applause. An eye half OPP
en- can see the Righteousness of such an
absurdity. A more extravagant and
subversion of official position was never
before witnessed in this country, and no
wonder that the labor reunions of Mil
waukee, Chicago and elsewhere refuse
to join in the demonstrations of welcome
and characterize the proceedings as
''smacking too much of the homage paid
to royalty in Europe" No wonder
there is bitterness and heart burnings
aiming the -laborIng masses OF the
country. ....
The mystery which has surrounded
the fisheries negotiations between our
government and the British is in ameas-
ure dispelled by the publication of the
names of the gentlemen selected to rep
resent the United States. DR.. Angel is
probably chosen because, on his special
mission to China some years ago, he
proved his ability as diplomat. Mr..
Putnam is less widely known. He is a
native of Bath, lawyer oflarge practice
and admitted ability, and has taken &C
tive part in the discussion of questions
connected with the fisheries. He has
been mayor of Portland, and was nomi-
mated by Governor Plaisted for judge of
the State supreme court to fill a va
csncy, but was not confirmed. In 1884
he was nominated for supreme judge to
succeed Judge Symonds, but shared the
fate of the rest of the Democratic ticket,
which stood doubly bad chance owing
to the presidential election then impend-
ing.